TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 triumphs at Geneva Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie
TAG Heuer, that first
started making chronographs in 1860, has once again been recognised
for its pioneering work in timekeeping. The Carrera 1887
Chronograph has been awarded the
"Petit Aiguille" Watch of the Year Award at the prestigious
Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie in Geneva on 14 November 2010. The
new Carrera 1887 is an integrated column-wheel automatic
chronograph and the movement has been developed, produced and
assembled at TAG Heuer's ateliers in Switzerland. It is named for
the 1887 pocket watch that first featured the patented oscillating
pinion invented by Edouard Heuer. The pinion that is a "clutch"
system for the chronograph function also has a column wheel to
coordinate the smooth operation of timing functions. The automatic
movement with some 320 components has a 50 hour power reserve and
it vibrates 28,800 times an hour, making it a very precise
timekeeper. It also means that it ticks faster than a normal watch.
President and CEO of TAG Heuer, Jean-Christophe Babin collected the
"Petite Aiguille" prize in Geneva and said: "This is great victory
for TAG Heuer, and for our Honorary Chairman Jack Heuer. Jack is
the creative genius behind so many of our icons, among them the
Monaco, the Silverstone and, of course the Carrera. He designed the
first Carrera in 1964 and has overseen every new generation since.
This new version celebrates that legacy. It's a "Grand Classique"
re-invented for TAG Heuer's 150th Anniversary, faithful to the
original in design and spirit, but with a radical new "engine" -
the Calibre 1887 - which turns it into a 3rd Millennium chronograph
in terms of size, quality, performance and accuracy." One of the
most evocative names in the TAG Heuer stable is the "Carrera"
originally designed by Jack Heuer, great grandson of the founder of
this house. It is named for the Carrera Panamericana, Mexico that
conjures up images of tough men behind the wheels of big cars
roaring around blind corners in a cloud of dust through the rugged
Sierra Madre, south of the border. Jack Heuer chose the name
for this high-performance precision instrument as he was fascinated
by this notoriously difficult 1950's race, or carrera, as it is
called in Spanish. The round Carrera with its clear sub-dials has
become something of a badge amongst racing fans and speed junkies.
The dial of the new version recalls the dashboard counters of
classic race-cars in the 1950's. Its function-led design makes this
a practical and lasting choice for anyone with more than a passing
interest in the world of speed. Jack Heuer's aim was to clear to
dial of uneccesary clutter and was inspired by the minimalist
design of the time. Swiss watch house TAG Heuer and racing cars
have long been associated. Precision chronographs, dashboard
instruments, racing-driver ambassadors and Formula 1 timing have
all brought the thrill of racing to the brand. The Carrera, and
sister watches the Monaco and Silverstone chronographs all relate
to cult moments in the world of high-performance cars and are about
as close as you can get to strapping a piece of motoring history on
your wrist. TAG Heuer's history with speed goes back a long way. In
1911 the company, then known as Heuer, launched the "Time of Trip"
dashboard chronograph and a few years later the Micrograph that was
the first mechanical stopwatch able to time to 1/100th
of a second. In the 30's the firm introduced the Autavia, the
dashboard chronograph for both cars and airplanes. Today the firm
has strong links with the world of racing that includes the role of
official timekeeper to the Indy 500 and counts among its glamorous
ambassadors Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. TAG Heuer will always
be associated with developing the sophisticated timing systems for
Formula 1 racing that brought the sport to life for spectators both
at the track and watching the televised event by being able to
offer accurate and up-to-date information on the timing of each
car. The Carrera continues to evolve and its place in the history
of chronographs is assured now that it has the prestigious
recognition of the jury of the Geneva Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie to
add to its accolades.
